LEST WE FORGET 347 STAGE, Joseph Bell WWI Joseph was born in Howden, England, on September 4, 1882 to parents William and Jane Stage. He arrived in Canada on September 13, 1911 with his wife Elizabeth and their two children, Joseph and Christiana. Joseph Sr. was working in Moose Jaw as a boilermaker when he enlisted on October 27, 1914, serving with the 28th Battalion, ending up near Shorncliff, England. His battalion left for the front lines in France on September 17, 1915. His wife and children, who had followed him to England, travelled to Calais, France, to be near him but were eventually persuaded to return to Canada. Joseph was wounded twice and partially buried in an air raid. He stayed alive by pulling his collar away from his throat so he could breathe. His loving wife, mistakenly informed that he had been killed, set off for France and found him alive, although badly injured. He suffered from what was then called ‘shell shock’ and was hospitalized for a month. After the war, the family relocated from Moose Jaw to Outlook. Elizabeth became ill in 1921, needing intensive treatment in Rochester. They subsequently moved to Santa Monica, California, where Joseph purchased a service station. He died on February 2, 1958 and is buried at San Bernardino. STEPHENS (McEWEN), Audrey Hope Audrey was born in October 1921. As her brothers joined the Air Force, she chose to serve her country too. She served “overseas” in Gander, NL, and Dartmouth, NS. She did aircraft reconnaissance (radar spotting), and then identified sunken ships and planes to ensure everyone was accounted for after the war. After the war, she enrolled at the U of S, convocating with her Household Science and Education degrees. She met her husband Jonathan at his brother Gordon’s and Elizabeth’s wedding while working at Fort San as the dietitian. Elizabeth loved to relate that he immediately picked her out in her beautiful green suit and said, “that’s the girl I’m going to marry.” They had five daughters. In later years, Audrey and Jonathan enjoyed travelling to the UK, Hawaii, Florida and Alaska. Audrey passed away on June 4, 2019. STANDFIELD, Ralph Lewis WWII & PEACETIME Ralph was born in Craik, Saskatchewan, on January 7, 1922. He enlisted in the Navy and served during World War II on various ships: HMCS Chignecto in the Pacific; HMCS Giffard on the North Sea and in the North Atlantic; HMCS Queen, HMCS Tecumseh, HMCS Antigonish, HMCS Sioux and the HMCS Malahat. He was discharged after World War II on February 7, 1945, having served as Leading Seaman and Leading Torpedo Operator. He re-enlisted in April 1951 and received his final discharge in April 1956 as Petty Officer 1st Class. Ralph passed away on May 14, 2008.
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